Have just watched the South Korean war film Brotherhood. A film about 2 brothers forced to fight against the Commies. In a word WOW. I can remember the oh-my-god feeling as a "sticky bomb" blew a poor GI apart in Saving Private Ryan. No fire, or smoke, just a man ripped apart. Brotherhood is filled with countless visions of unlucky troops sharing similar fates. Add to this Jin-tae, one of the brothers, surging through the film like Rambo on steroids! Don't get me wrong, the gritty war violence is great, but the thing that sets it apart from the crowd is the brother's relationship. Dong-Kun Jang, and Bin Won give wonderful performances, and effortlessly keep the viewer engaged throughout the 2.5 hours runtime. This reportedly took Je-gyu Kang 3.5 years to make, IMO time well spent.

Thought i'd bring this thread up as I just finished watching Brotherhood. I bought it blind the other day and I can say this is the best blind purchase i've made. It could have just been me being emotional but I did shed a few tears throughout that. ( a few being a large understatement )

I found this to be everything SPR wasn't - if it was an inspiration, it could only have been to improve on a film that was overlong and often boring as hell (the first few minutes were fine - but Spielberg should learn that short sections do not a film make - on the evidence of the last 50 mins of WofW it is something that still confuses him).

But this doesn't lose interest, and is certainly never boring, and while I accept the comment on melodrama, at least it meant it was emotionally interesting without using clichéd button-pushing techniques.

Superb actions scenes as well and the director handled the bigger crowd scenes superbly.

I'd also recommend Shiri. It is a very enjoyable thriller and also star someone you only see in passing here - the wonderful Min-Sik Choi - and I do wish Chihwaseon would get to the top of my rental queue as I missed it on BBC4!

Just got round to watching this movie and to say I was lown away by it is an understatement. It wipes the floor with Saving Private Ryan. Some of the acting is a tad off but its easily ignored. The Battle scenes are better than anything Hollywood has produced. the obvious thing that sets this movie apart is the relationship between the two Brothers.

I brought this as a blind buy and just watched it and i thought it was great.

There are obvious parallels between it and Private Ryan with the graphic violence and the film being bookended by scenes in the present day but personally i thought this was the better film...and i love Private Ryan.

While some may say the dialogue may be a bit overdramatic, i didn't mind and i was swept up in the film's scope and grandeur. Top notch performances from the two brothers and i can honestly say that tears were streaming down my face for the last 10 mins.

Why can't we or the Americans make such amazing films with a budget of only $13 million? It looked like it cost 100 times that much.

< Message edited by Timon -- 21/8/2006 2:05:41 PM >

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"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

Just finished watching this and thought it was fantastic. The battle scenes were outstanding, especially considering the cost of the film was so low, but the relationship between the brothers is what made the film so special. I was extremely close to tears at the end of the film!

I just watched this again... and once more, come the ending... man-tears.

I still can't believe it only cost $13 million. Some of the battle scenes make parts of Saving Private Ryan look like a fracus in a sandpit.

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"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

i never heard of this film until i saw it in hmv for £5 so i took a gamble and brought it and thats when i found out im a good gambler! this film was so good! really emotional and brutal but overall - fantastic - im really chuffed i got it now and im glad theres a thread for this not well known korean hit!

i really didnt get into this that much... i thought the plot was way too convulted and some dodgy effects really ruined some of the latter battle scenes (i.e the planes flying over, they really werent needed, and they looked appalling, i was cringing the whole time they were there) i was unfortunately pretty disappointed with this, since i'd been looking forward to it for a long time.

What to say about this splendid , gorgeous movie ? In one sentence : the best war movie I have ever seen - ever! It is perfect in every aspect: every scene is well done with sense and attention,really catching story , history facts.... just everything. The other chapter is special effects. These were done absolutely tremendous and it is far better than any American film and with deep storyline which almost made me cry you will get the full-value experience.

The movie starts retrospectively when old man returns in his thoughts to the Korean War where he fought next to his older brother. He seemed to him tough and rude and that he wants to reach the medal by any means that necessary. But all this is the only way to get younger brother back home to his sick old mother. The all movie draws changes of both brothers and their attitude to war and life. And finally when the older one things that his brother is dead he has nothing to fight for and changes the side - becomes one of the Communist. But during one of the battles they meet each other again this time everyone at other side - they are enemies now.....(very end of the movie)

This weekend I watched 71-Into The Fire which is based on a true story of a group of 71 undertrained and undergunned student-soldiers for South Korea during the Korean War, who were mostly killed on August 11, 1950, during the Battle of P'ohang-dong, while defending P'ohang-dong girls' middle school.

Again, with a minimal budget, the Koreans really do know how to shoot an action/war scene. The only thing really hampering it was some gratuitous melodrama and the forced storyline about the 'bad apple who eventually does the right thing'.

Still, it was a decent film which I'd recommend.

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"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

"Inspired by a true story. Jun Shik works for Tatsuo's grandfather's farm while Korea is colonized by Japan, but he has a dream to participate in Tokyo Olympics as a marathon runner. Tatsuo also aims to become a marathon runner, so the two are in rivalry. But war breaks out and they both are forced to enlist in the army. Tatsuo becomes the head of defense in Jun Shik's unit and he devises a scheme but fails. Jun Shik and Tatsuo are captured by the Soviets. They run away but soon are captured by Germans and forced to separate. In 1944, they meet again at the shores of Normandy."

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

"Inspired by a true story. Jun Shik works for Tatsuo's grandfather's farm while Korea is colonized by Japan, but he has a dream to participate in Tokyo Olympics as a marathon runner. Tatsuo also aims to become a marathon runner, so the two are in rivalry. But war breaks out and they both are forced to enlist in the army. Tatsuo becomes the head of defense in Jun Shik's unit and he devises a scheme but fails. Jun Shik and Tatsuo are captured by the Soviets. They run away but soon are captured by Germans and forced to separate. In 1944, they meet again at the shores of Normandy."

I watched this last weekend and bloody loved it! I originally got it as it mentioned marathon running so thought it would be a good watch but wasn't prepared for how emotional it would be. Loved Brotherhood as well. I'm currently waiting for Friend from Lovefilm as I need to see more of the rather delicious Dong-Gun Jang

I'm a big fan of this movie. Don't get the negative comments about Saving Private Ryan that have crept in, but I agree that Brotherhood is brilliant. I think Shiri is a great action movie, too... and features Yunjin Kim from Lost in her breakout role.

The Warrior's Way is quite an odd experience. It's like a supernatural ninja western that is really rubbish, but highly entertaining.

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"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

Just realised I have Coastguard and The Warriors Way on my rental list as well so a right Dong-Gun Jang fest

I've just added Shiri and Assembly

quote:

Hobbitonlass

Ha. Dong-fest.

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"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."